BINAY STILL AHEAD OF AQUINO IN RATINGS GAME

VICE President Jejomar continues to rate higher than President Benigno Aquino 3rd in terms of approval and trust, according to Pulse Asia’s latest survey.

The survey, carried out last December, showed Binay with an approval rating of 80 percent and Aquino with 73 percent.

The Vice President also led the President in the trust category, 77 percent to 74 percent.

Pulse Asia did the survey from December 8 to 15, a month after Super Typhoon Yolanda slammed into Central Philippines, and the government was being criticized for its slow response to the catastrophe.

Binay welcomed the poll results, saying it inspires him to work harder to improve the lives of the people and provide them better service.

Binay, who is widely believed to be interested in running for president in 2016, refused to comment on the controversies hounding the Aquino administration.

Aquino’s approval rating slipped from 79 percent in September to 73 percent in December, while his trust rating fell from 76 percent in September to 74 percent in December.

Pulse Asia said other significant issues that could have weighed down the President’s ratings were the “rising death toll due to Typhoon Yolanda,” the ongoing rehabilitation efforts in Leyte and other areas hit by the typhoon, the designation of former Senator Panfilo Lacson as the rehabilitation czar responsible for overseeing the reconstruction of the areas devastated by the typhoon and the word war between Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas 2nd and Mayor Alfred Romualdez of Tacloban City.

Other developments include the resignation of Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon amid his alleged link in the pork scam, the investigation of fake SAROs in the release of funds for agri-projects, alleged influence peddling in the Supreme Court, the dispute between Manny Pacquiao and Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares, and the Meralco rate hike.

Malacañang shrugged off the dip in Aquino’s approval rating.

“In the aftermath of a series of calamities and the tremendous challenges arising from these, the President continues to enjoy the support of about three out of every four Filipinos,” Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement.

Coloma said the President and the members of his Cabinet “have rolled up their sleeves and are determined to vigorously implement in 2014 the major programs of the Philippine Development Plan.”

“We call on our people to join government’s reconstruction efforts and, in the spirit of bayanihan, build back better and disaster-resilient communities. We also seek our people’s feedback and suggestions on how government can deliver services more effectively,” he added.

Binay said he has learned his lesson when he was publicly criticized for being “epal” (a derisive description of publicity hungry politicians) after distributing relief goods with a seal of his office in some of the affected families of Yolanda in Iloilo province.

He said the goods were donated by his supporters and that he had nothing to do with it.

I am in accord with the many netizens advocating for the ousting of the sitting president but what deters me from going all out on it is that if it happens binay will take over. I would propose instead that a caretaker hold the reins after this administration is dissolved and a general election be held for all ellective positions but I must be dreaming am I not? What a mess we are in indeed we are constrained to endure pnoy only because binay is poised to succeed if pnoy is ousted.